Virgin StartUp of the Week - Mous
The pain of spending 10 minutes untangling your headphones is one well-known to commuters worldwide. Luckily, innovative startup Mous have an ingenious solution: iPhone cases that allow you to store your headphones safely, without damaging them (or losing them altogether). They're our startup of the week - let's find out more!
We choose one Virgin StartUp company to be featured on Virginstartup.org each week. We ask our startups of the week to deliver the ultimate elevator pitch. What would they say if they had one minute in a lift with Sir Richard Branson? Please answer the questions below, keeping each answer to five sentences max.
Ground to floor 1 – Explain what your business does
Mous focuses on solving problems in style. Our first product Musicase is an iPhone case that solves the common problems of tangled and lost headphones. It also comes in a range of colours, allowing you to customize it to suit your style. The Metro headlined a feature on us with “Stop earphones having sex in your pocket!”, which we think sums it up!
Floor 1 to 2 - Where are you based?
We have just received support from Somewhereto.com to get an office in London.
Floor 2 to 3 – What’s the business model?
We are currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter to raise enough funds to manufacture. We are focusing on listening to our supports for now, but in 2015 we will start working with retailers.
Floor 3 to 4 – Who are your competitors?
Any phone case manufacturers.
Floor 4 to 5 – What’s your USP?
Ours doesn’t just protect your phone - it's also super useful! At the same time, it looks pretty cool!
Floor 5 to 6 – Where did the idea come from?
As Richard Branson says, “Great businesses are built from frustration”. Josh kept losing his headphones at Uni!
Floor 6 to 7 – How much funding did you receive from Virgin StartUp?
£7000
Floor 7 to 8 – How are you going to use it to grow your business?
It will fund part of the mould costs for the iPhone 5, and then Kickstarter will fund the rest, the iPhone 6 mould and the first batch!
Floor 8 to 9 – What’s your workspace like?
We have been on the move for the last 2 weeks, travelling around! We're now in New York trying to get the word out. We're rarely found in the same location...
Floor 10 to 11 – where will your business be in 12 month’s time?
We would love to do collaboration with a headphone manufacturer!